The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Directorate, has arrested 28 suspected internet fraudsters in Kwara State.
According to a statement released by the EFCC Media Office, “the suspects were picked up in the early hours of Tuesday during sting operations carried out in Tanke, University Road, Oshin, and Agbabiaka areas of the state capital.”
The commission said the arrests followed credible intelligence linking the suspects to cybercrime activities within Ilorin.
EFCC disclosed that items recovered from them included “seven exotic cars, among them a latest model Toyota Corolla and a Lexus, two motorcycles, as well as expensive phones and laptops allegedly used for internet fraud.”
The statement added, “The suspects will be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations.”
It was reported that the EFCC had earlier warned against the rising cases of internet fraud, which are worsening visa restrictions for innocent Nigerians abroad.
The Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who was represented by the Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Coker Oyegunle, gave the charge, at an event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, organized by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth on Security and Safety Affairs.
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“The EFCC boss highlighted that internet fraud, money laundering, and economic sabotage cost Nigeria billions of naira annually, undermining national growth and depriving citizens of infrastructure, jobs, and opportunities.
Beyond the economic damage, he pointed out that the crimes erode Nigeria’s international image and subject innocent Nigerians to stricter visa restrictions abroad,” the statement read.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement and anti-graft agency that investigates financial crimes and unknown transactions such as advance fee fraud and money laundering.
The body was established in 2003, partially in response to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, which named Nigeria as one of 23 countries non-cooperative in the international community’s efforts to fight money laundering.
The agency has its head office in Abuja, Nigeria. The EFCC was also set up to fight against corruption and protect the country from economic saboteurs.
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